Apparatus for forming and shaping hat brims



April 7, 1925. I 1,532,892

F. A. EARHART v APPARATUS FOR FORMING AND SHAPING HAT BRIMS Filed June 8, 1922 Z1 Z .3. r or L L a p a V 55 I S v ATTORNEY;

Patented Apr. 7, 1925.

UNITED STATES.

FRANK A. EARHART, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUS FOR romaine AND SHAIIING HAT 'BnIMs.

Application filed June 8, 1922. Serial No. 566,677,

hat brims without marring or injuring the material thereof, provision being made for effectively and quickly forming hat brims by my novel method and apparatus, whereby a superior product is more cheaply and effectively produced than heretofore, the novel features of my invention being fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.

For the purpose of illustrating my in drawings a form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since it will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of-whichmy invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described. I

t Figure 1 represents a top plan view of an apparatus for carrying out my invention. Figure 2 represents a section on line 22 of Figure 1, j v

Figure 3 represents a section on line 33 Figure l.

Figure 4 represents a perspective View of a plurality of plates and spurs employed in carrying out my novel method, the same being shown in detached position.

Figure 5 represents a side elevation of a finished hat brim produced by my novel method, and v Figure 6 represents a sectional View showing the manner of assembling the elements of sheets of which the hat brim is composed.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts.

' Referring to the drawings, 7

In carrying out my invention, I have shown in Figure 6, assection of the finished hat brim as'indicated at 1, which is com posed of the lower sheet or piece 2, as of 5 velvet or the like, the'u per sheet" 3 also of velvet -or the like an the intermediate of and apparatus for forming or shaping vention, I have shown in the accompanying the position PATENTTOFFICEQ j stiffener at of buckrain or the like, the nap of the velvet sheets being outside.

In carrying out'my invention, the lower sheet 2 of velvet is first coated on'its top or side opposite to the nap with a suitable cement or adhesive material andis then placed upon the block or die 5.

cord or other fastening means 19 is then tied around the outer periphery of said sheet 2 above the pins 19*, it being apparent that said die or blocku5 hasits upper surface shaped to'the desiredconformation as seen in Figures 2 and 3. v

The lower plate '6, best seen in Figure 4, 1 is then placed in position upon the lower velvet sheet 2 and pressed downwardly-so that the spur 7 is forced through the sheet 2 and passed through the'hole 8 in the die.

The treadle 27 is then depressedby the operatorjso as to press the plunger 18 down wardly upon the plate 6,.after which the wedge 13 is inserted through the slot 14: of the spur 7, so that the upper edge15 of said wedge contacts ,7 with the walls 16 as will be understood from Figure 3, so that the plate 6 is held firmlyin its downward posi tion against the topof the lower the treadle is released.

sheet 2 and The intermediatesheet of buckram for y the like having been coated with cement or other suitable adhesive material .on both sides is then placed on the top of the lower velvet sheet 2, covering also the top of the plate 6, afterwhich the upper plate 9 is placed in position and its spur lOisfpassed through the top sheet 4 of buekram, and the bottom sheet 2 of velvet, said spur also passing through the hole 11 in (see Figureet). y

The treadle 27 is then depressed to bring the plunger 18 down "upon the upperplate 9 and the sheets below the same, after which a second wedge 13 is inserted throughfthe the plate 6 slot 13 in the spur .10,- so that b th th p plates 6 and 9 are rigidly locked in position and the sheets of buck-ram and theflbottom velvet sheet are compressed, as ,seen in Figure 2,

The bottom ,sideof the upper sheet 3 10f.

velvet is next coated with. cement another aclhesivematerial and'is placed upon thetop of the sheet of 'b'uckram and the topof the plate 9, the plunger 18 is then brou'ghtinto seen in Figures 2 and 3 by the treadle'27.

The top surface of the topsheet of velvet ,3 is manipulated .or manually smoothed around its outer' surface to conform to the top of the die or blocks, after Which its outer periphery is secured by a cord passing around the top of the pins 19*.

It will be understoodthat the die 5 is heatedby any su'itable'means (notshown) so that while the plates 9 and 6 and the sheets 3, 4 and 2 are in the position seen in- 1Figure 2 and 3, the cement or adhesive ma:

- terial commontoltheir' contiguous surfaces .which isdesignated as 33. I

will be melted and will firmly adhere to the contiguous surfaces composing the hat brim,

' The hat brim 33, having beenf shaped or formed, the cords 19 are then removed from the pins 19*, the Wedges 13 are removediand the plunger 18 elevated, after which the finished shaped hat brim 33, together with the plates-6 and 9v are'removed, and the center portion of the brim can be cut out at 34 by any suitable means and *the crown secured in place, as is customary.

The plunger 18 can be actuated by any suitable means and I have shown the same as secured to the arms 20, bolted to the transverse cross piece 21 through Whose outer ends pass the rods 22, through whose lower ends pass the transverse rod 23.

24 designates a transverse, stationary rod secured in thebottomof the framework or uprights 25.' Theside arms 26 are supported 1 passes the transverse-rod 23. The front treadle 27 has its rear portion mounted onthe transverse stationary rod 24 and projects.

at their rear ends by the transverse sta-' tionary rod 24, which passes through them, and through the front ends of said arms forwardly overthe rod 23, so that when the v treadle is' depressed, the rod 23, arms 26 and side rods 22 and theiradjuncts descend,

of the plate 31, which carriesthe posts 32,

" plunger 18 can be actuated by other'meanscarrying with them the plunger 18. a

The upward -movement of the treadle is assured by the tension of the springs 28,

whose lower ends are attached to the rod 23 and their upper ends to the cross rod 29. The rods22 are guided in the holes 30 I which support the die block 5;

It will .of course be evident that the than that shown. V

v ,The die 5 is preferably providedwith a central-seat'17, which receivesthe central portion of thebrim blank, andthe, plates It will be apparent from the foregoing that by my novel method of making hat 'brims, the material composing the hat brim surface proper is notcimpaired or injured I hy- (pressure thereon, since thepressure is applied to the central portion of the brim,

whichis afterwards cutout and to the exterior peripheraledge of the brim while the latter is engaged by the cord 19, sothat the material composing the brim is not injured in any way during the operation ofits formation. I

' It Will be understood that while I have described the brim in the present instance as being composed of upper and, lower sheets 3 of velvet with the nap outside and the intermediate stiffener, or sheet of buckrarn, the brim maybe composed of othermaterials than those described, as is evident It will further be apparent that hat brims V constructed in accordance with my invention can be expeditiously and effectively produced with aminimum expenditure oftime and labor,- and that my invention is ap-.

shape a plurality ,of sheets of material,

It will nowbe apparent that I-have deviseda novel and useful method of and apparatus for forming and shaping hatbrims Which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the. statement of the invention and the above description, and while I have, in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to behunderstood that such embodiment is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention orsacrificing any of its advantages.

also

Having thus described my invention, what i I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

' 1. In an apparatus of thecharacter stated,

a heated die having pins secured toits outer periphery, holes through said die and av plurality of plates having spurs depending therefrom and passing throughthe holes in said die, wedges passing through'slots in v said spurs, a plungenabove said plates,'and

means including a foot treadle for actuating said plunger.

2. The herein described device for applying pressure to the central portlon of hat brims,' comprisingfa; heated die having a hole .therethrough, a plate having a spur' depending therefrom and-provided with a slot, and a wedge passing throughsaid slot and contacting at itsiupper edge with pro-' 'jections from. said dle.

3. In a deviceofthe character stated; a

pheryfor securing a. hat brim thereto, a

lower plate having a hole therein and a spur heated die; having means on its outer peridepending therefrorn, and provided with a above said plates, and spring pressed means slot, said spur passing through a hole in including a foot treadle for actuating said 10 said die the upper plate having a spur plunger.

depending therefrom and passin r through the hole in said lower plate and provided FRANK EARHART' with a slot, a pair of Wedging; members pass- Witnesses: ing through said slots for drawing said E. HAYWARD FAIRBANKS,

plates towards said die a plunger located C. D. MOVAY. 

